Wins Havana Prize In Perilous Flight.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 18, 1913:
Rosillo, a Cuban, First to Cross Florida Straits in the Air.
MAKES TRIP IN 2 H., 8 M.
Almost Loses Way from Key West to Island Capital — Collapses at Finish.
    HAVANA, May 17.— With almost the last drop of gasoline consumed, the supply of lubricating oil exhausted, and the motor so overheated that it was likely to stop at any minute, Domingo Rosillo finished this morning the last five miles of a flight across Florida Straits that made him the first man to fly all the way from the United States to Cuba, thereby ginning for him the $10,000 prize which the City Council of Havana had offered to give the first Cuban aviator making an aerial journey from Key West to this city.
    Rosillo's flight was made in exactly two hours and eight minutes, more than half as long again as the time on which the aviator had counted. The delay was a result of contrary winds, against which Rosillo battled throughout his trip. He made the journey without even a float under him to save him from drowning if he should fall into the sea. On his way across the straits he had only a glimpse of one of the three Cuban warships which had been sent out to cover his route and pick him up in the event of a mishap.
    The successful airman collapsed completely in consequence of the strain when he had landed safely in Camp Columbia. He quickly recovered his self-possession, however, and modestly received the fervent congratulations of his admirers, which were so enthusiastic that troops had to be called out to protect him from the vigor of their felicitations.
    Rosillo started from Key West at 6:19 A.M., Havana, time. He determined to attempt the trip in spite of the fact that stiff and dangerous breezes were blowing and that his friends pleaded earnestly with him to postpone his flight. To their importunities he replied that he already had cabled to his friends in Havana that he was coming, and he would not disappoint them.
    In his flight over the straits, Rosillo was guided by a little hand compass. He followed closely the instructions given to him to ascend to a great altitude, thereby seeking less resistance from the high wind, although he realized that course was delaying him greatly and making dangerous inroads on his supply of gasoline. When he had recovered from his exhaustion Rosillo said:
    "The only vessel I saw of the warships sent out to cover my route was the Hatuey. I sighted her about 35 miles from Havana. I scanned the sea in every direction, but not even one sail could I see. Thereupon I became uneasy, fearing that I had lost my way.
    "Finally," the aviator continued, "I made out smoke considerably beyond me. Descending a little I came in sight of the gunboat Hatuey, toward which I descended until within a short distance of her. I was greatly relieved by the knowledge that I had not mistaken my route. Then I left the gunboat behind quickly. The Hatuey turned and rushed after me at full speed. She was the last ship I saw until I was in sight of Havana. I never did see the gunboat supposed to be 15 miles out from Havana, which would have been a welcome sight when I realized that both my gasoline and my lubricating oil were running short."
    Fifty-thousand persons were gathered along this city's waterfront, waiting from 6 o'clock for Rosillo's appearance. The Cuban Government's military representatives fired a signal of three guns from Havana Fortress when the aviator's flight was started. A great flotilla of boats greeted him with whistles when he made his appearance. Mayor Freyre Andrade, who had awaited the aviator at the seaside, rushed in an automobile to Camp Columbia, where he congratulated the airman and received the mailbag containing letters, among them from the Mayor of Key West to the Mayor of Havana, and another from the Cuban Consul in Key West to the Secretary of State of Cuba.
    Mayor Andrade took Rosillo to President-elect Menocal, who informed the aviator that he personally had added a $1,000 prize. President Gomez was visited later by the Mayor and the airman. He stated that he had added another $1,000 to the aviator's reward.
    Rosillo brought a monkey on his flight, which had been given to him in Key West as a mascot.
    Augustine Parla, another Cuban aviator, who failed to make a successful start, expected to fly from Key West to Havana on May 20.